Fallout Read Online Free PDF Page A

says.
    â€œMaybe.”
    â€œYou don’t work today, do you?”
    Ebony asks.
    â€œNo.”
    â€œWe should do something fun.”
    A strand of hair falls into my eyes and I push it away. How can I be so tired?
    â€œFun? Like what?”
    â€œI don’t know. Hunt for treasure at the thrift store?”
    I sigh. “I should try to write.”
    â€œYou should try not to write,” she counters. “Even I don’t write all the time. I know, what about—”
    The phone rings.
    â€œSorry—I should—”
    â€œDo you want me to go?” she asks.
    â€œIt’s okay,” I say and pick up the phone.
    â€œHey, Tara—”
    â€œDavid!”
    Ebony’s eyebrows shoot up.
    â€œHey—it’s been a while.”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œYeah.”
    God. How awkward can a conversation be? “Where are you?”
    â€œVancouver, of course. Where else?”
    Where else. “So, what’s up?” I ask.
    â€œNot much. You?”
    â€œWork. Slams. Are you still playing soccer?” I know he is. I follow the team online. He’s still one of the best in the league.
    â€œYeah. I had three scholarship offers for this year.”
    â€œNice. Are you accepting any of them?”
    â€œSouth Carolina. Full ride.”
    â€œWow. Congratulations!” I hope I sound more excited than I feel. South Carolina. That’s a long way from everywhere.
    â€œSo, anyway, I mostly wanted to call and say hi—you know, see if you’re doing okay.”
    My throat closes and I can’t speak. I turn away from Ebony.
    â€œTara? You’re doing okay, aren’t you?”
    I hear the terror in his voice. It’s what we all feel when someone doesn’t pick up the phone or when a silence goes on for too long. I clear my throat. “Sorry.
    I’m—I’m fighting off a cold. I’m fine.”
    â€œGood. That’s good.”
    â€œYou?”
    â€œI’m doing okay.”
    â€œGood.” Did we really miss curfews because we couldn’t stop talking? “David, I have to go. My friend’s here and—”
    â€œNo problem. I just wanted to say hi.” He sounds relieved.
    â€œThanks for calling. Talk to you soon.”
    We both hang up. We won’t talk again for a long time.
    â€œAw, honey—come here,” Ebony says, her arms wide. I fall against her, sobbing. She pats my back.
    â€œOh god—I’m sorry,” I say, gulping back tears.
    â€œNo apology needed. Go wash your face. Let’s go to the farmer’s market.”
    Grateful not to be in charge, I head into the bathroom to pull myself together.

Chapter Eleven
    â€œHave you ever had Maya’s samosas?”
    We’re in front of a food cart in the middle of the market. “I don’t think so.”
    â€œOh my god—so good!” Ebony buys a plateful of vegetarian samosas.
    We sit side by side on a bench. She holds the paper plate between us. “Careful,” she says, biting off two corners of a samosa. She blows gently into one hole, forcing steam out the second. “Hot!” she says, bugging her eyes out.
    â€œThese are good,” I agree. I love samosas, but Maya’s are amazing. Potatoes, onions, peas, cilantro, a bit of curry, something peppery…“Oh, yum!”
    Ebony carefully nibbles her way into the hot filling. “So, you going to tell me about this David boy?”
    â€œNot so much to tell, really.”
    â€œHow did you meet?”
    I blush. “It’s kind of a lame story.”
    â€œNo such thing as a lame story when it comes to looove.”
    â€œYou haven’t heard it yet…”
    â€œSo tell me.”
    â€œEverybody at my school knew David. He’s a really good soccer player and he’s also smart and funny—and, you know, self-confident.”
    Ebony grins. “Sounds like Mr. Perfect.”
    â€œAlmost.”
    â€œHave